Newly certified, looking for gear... abroad?

[Marie13]

haha it is a big country. we don't all live along the border across from a major u.s. city. besides, travelling is tough when you can't get anyone to look after your igloo when you're gone.

I've read various statistics that say at least 75%-85% of Canadians live within 150km of the US border. I've known a number of Canadians with US PO boxes or a box at the UPS store. Somewhere for their orders from US places to be shipped. Pop across the border and pick them up. You don't have to be near a major US city to do that.

 

[rick00001967]

i think some of you need to sharpen up your funny bone

 

[Biotech Diver]

Whenever possible I shop at my favorite local dive shop. There have been several times they have helped me out with gear I bought that was defective. The manufacturer kept giving me the run around and taking months in attempts to resolve the issue. I can go into much more detail if anyone is interested.

In the one case it was a defective dive computer. After the manufacturer sent me “refurbished “ replacement dive computers TWICE that were also defective, my local dive shop gave me a full refund even though they had no obligation to. They were super helpful throughout the whole process and I’m forever grateful and very loyal to them. Personally, I don’t mind paying more to support my local dive shop versus buying something online at a better price. Usually the price difference isn’t more than 10% difference anyway and most times the price is the same.

If you still haven’t bought your BC, I would strongly consider a modular system where you buy your wing, harness, and backplate separately versus a standard BC that is all one unit. I wish I had instead done that now since recently getting into technical diving where almost none of my sport diving gear can be used for technical diving.

 

[Bigbella]

If you still haven’t bought your BC, I would strongly consider a modular system where you buy your wing, harness, and backplate separately versus a standard BC that is all one unit. I wish I had instead done that now since recently getting into technical diving where almost none of my sport diving gear can be used for technical diving.

Most of that attitude toward BCs is pure marketing and the industry reinventing the wheel, to sell courses and absurdly over-priced equipment. The earliest BCs began as modular devices, with a hard-shell back and a detachable float; or, simply, even a horse collar.

We were engaged in "technical" diving, whatever the hell that really means -- long before that was particularly a thing; and we used any and all gear we had on hand, to do that work -- whether it were recreational vests, modular devices, whatever was available . . .

 

[Biotech Diver]

Most of that attitude toward BCs is pure marketing and the industry reinventing the wheel, to sell courses and absurdly over-priced equipment. The earliest BCs began as modular devices, with a hard-shell back and a detachable float; or, simply, even a horse collar.

We were engaged in "technical" diving, whatever the hell that really means -- long before that was particularly a thing; and we used any and all gear we had on hand, to do that work -- whether it were recreational vests, modular devices, whatever was available . . .

I’ll go with the advice of my highly respected and knowledgeable instructor and many other local experts before listening to the advice of some message board self appointed guru on all things diving, but thanks for your enlightenment.

 

[Bigbella]

I’ll go with the advice of my highly respected and knowledgeable instructor and many other local experts before listening to the advice of some message board self appointed guru on all things diving, but thanks for your enlightenment.

Buy into the marketing; be a member of the flock. Your instructors and your shop have seen you coming from a mile away, if they think that your gear is insufficient; and if you don't believe me, I have some "rolling land" in Florida to sell you.

One of my mutual funds contains Huish Outdoors, who now owns Zeagle; so, please keep buying.

Buy.

I am not purporting to be a "guru" or anything else; just don't like seeing people getting screwed (even you) -- just speaking from four decades in the water; from working in the commercial and recreational dive industry; having even been part of the marketing in the past; and I have seen my fair share of so-called "technical" gear that eventually finds its way to swap meets; or in closets, next to dusty skis . . .

 

[Biotech Diver]

The primary advantage to the internet, as a whole, is that I don't have to deal with anyone, over the phone; and when last I did that, through LeisurePro, a smarmy salesman, who sounded a helluva lot like Jackie Mason, kept trying to up-sell and pressure me, to place a special order, due to the fact that they were to close for one of the high holidays.

I hung up . . .

My experience with spea

Buy into the marketing; be a member of the flock. Your instructors and your shop have seen you coming from a mile away; and if you don't believe me, I have some "rolling land" in Florida to sell you.

One of my mutual funds contains Huish Outdoors, who now owns Zeagle; so, please keep buying.

Buy.

I am not purporting to be a "guru" or anything else; just don't like seeing people getting screwed (even you) -- just speaking from four decades in the water; from working in the commercial and recreational dive industry; have even been part of the marketing in the past; and I have seen my fair share of so-called "technical" gear that eventually finds its way to swap meets; or in closets, next to dusty skis . . .

I appreciate your perspective but it always seems to be negative and cynical and judgmental. My instructor doesn’t make anything off of the gear I choose to buy and my dive shop does not try to upsell or push me into a direction to benefit themselves. The owner of the dive shop I use is a very good and fair person and she personally called me when I was having issues with the manufacturer of a dive computer (owned by Huish by the way, and who has the worst customer support and service I’ve had the displeasure to deal with) and said to bring the defective unit back for a full cash refund even though the dive shop had no obligation to.

Of course I could make my current sport diving set up work but it wasn’t designed for the type of diving I’m getting into. Using examples of 1970s era dive gear that still works great for you sounds like my grandfather complaining about automatic transmissions and how if you’re too lazy or stupid to use a clutch and stick shift you shouldn’t be driving.

 

[Bigbella]

My experience with spea


I appreciate your perspective but it always seems to be negative and cynical and judgmental. My instructor doesn’t make anything off of the gear I choose to buy and my dive shop does not try to upsell or push me into a direction to benefit themselves. The owner of the dive shop I use is a very good and fair person and she personally called me when I was having issues with the manufacturer of a dive computer (owned by Huish by the way, and who has the worst customer support and service I’ve had the displeasure to deal with) and said to bring the defective unit back for a full cash refund even though the dive shop had no obligation to.

Of course I could make my current sport diving set up work but it wasn’t designed for the type of diving I’m getting into. Using examples of 1970s era dive gear that still works great for you sounds like my grandfather complaining about automatic transmissions and how if you’re too lazy or stupid to use a clutch and stick shift you shouldn’t be driving.

Spend a bit of time in marketing and attend a few meetings, before you so easily level the term, "cynical."

Caveat emptor. That saying, originally came from Roman times.

One of the companies, I briefly worked for out of college, held a marketing meeting, where the very specific targeting strategy was, "to attract twenty-something male dilettantes with moderate to high disposable incomes, who drive Toyota SUVs or, better, Land Rovers, whose only off-roading, is an accidental strike of a parking barrier at a shopping mall; and persuade -- push them -- them to purchase premium-priced, hopefully, 'disposable' dive gear [packages] . . . [and] to only push the line of 1000 meter dive watches with helium-release valves, meant for saturation divers, as status symbols . . ."

You're being highly targeted, whether you believe it or not.

I don't dive with period 1970s BC technology, not since that time; that's insulting; do, however, drive a 5-speed Tacoma, because I can service it myself and, ably, use a clutch, even on the hills of San Francisco; but if you know anything about scuba, you'll quickly come to realize that you're using fresh, seventy-year-old tech in your regulators . . .

 

[Biotech Diver]

I was actually a telemarketer for a short time while paying my way through college. LOL! Hated that job and quit after 3 weeks because it felt so immoral targeting retired communities trying to sell them something they had zero use for.

Marketing is far more complex now than it was in your example. In fact it’s downright creepy how much information they collect on us via our cell phones and browsing histories. A year ago I was pricing underwater camera setups and ever since then I’ve been bombarded with related ads on many unrelated webpages.

Back on topic, my suggestion to OP was based on my experience with BC’s. A year ago I wasn’t even considering diving with doubles and trimix or diving much below 120 feet, but that’s changed and now I’ve purchased a whole new setup. I don’t regret any of my purchases but had I gone with a modular BC I from the beginning I could have save about $1,000. That’s why I suggested he consider it.

Buying local vs overseas/ online was another thing I commented on. I prefer to give my money to local businesses even if it costs slightly more. I can’t however fault or judge someone for trying to get the best price possible. It’s a personal choice.

 

[formernuke]

Warranty WILL not be valid on this side of the pond. Some places might not ship to the US.

Fixed it for you.

OP

Back around 10 years ago this was one of the most talked about things on SB.

Scubapro and aqualung will not recognize warranty for stuff bought overseas, it's only been recently that they allowed online sales at all. It used to be that LP sold what was called Grey market and SP and AL wouldn't recognize warranty from them, LP is now allowed to sale these as a authorized dealer and the prices show that.

For buying overseas I recommend against it for 2 reasons.
1. A lot of them won't ship to US
2. You can't fill a tank by USB

I recommend finding a good local shop and ask them to work with you. That way you can always get air fills